"So," Rainbow Dash said simply after a few minutes, resting her hooves behind her head in the booth. She watched Fluttershy smile at the large group a few yards away from them, unphased by the large amount of ponies. "Are you having fun?"
"Oh, yes," Fluttershy nodded clumsily, smiling at her friend.
"Heh, how are you feeling?" Rainbow Dash asked, smirking at Fluttershy.
"I'm fine," she said, then squinted slightly. "I feel a little tired, but that's it."
"You know, I really am glad you came to hang out with us," Rainbow Dash sighed contently. "And I'm even more glad that Tucker goes to get the drinks."
"I thought you guys liked each other," Fluttershy said, confused.
"I like him just fine, but it's just been so long since it's been just us girls. I think the last time the guys were actually away from us was at Shining Armor's wedding," Rainbow Dash said thoughtfully, then rubbed her chin. "Well, besides when Discord put them in that maze, but there was hardly any time to talk to each other then. There's just some things I feel like I can't tell Tucker, y'know?"
"I guess so," Fluttershy nodded, thinking of Grif.
"You know you're no good at hiding secrets from me, right?" Rainbow Dash inquired. "We've known each other basically our entire lives. I can tell when something is on your mind."
"I don't-" Fluttershy started, then let out a heavy breath. She knew she really couldn't hide anything from her oldest friend. "Can you keep a secret?"
"Hey, I'm the Element of Loyalty," Rainbow Dash snorted. "Of course I can keep a secret."
"It isn't funny," Fluttershy scowled. "I really need you to promise that you won't tell anypony."
"Sure, yeah, sorry," Rainbow Dash said, leaning closer to her friend, motioning her hoof of her body. "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. Now come on, tell me what's up."
"I'm... not sure if I can tell you," Fluttershy murmured, backing away.
"Come on, you made me Pinkie promise. I won't tell a soul, so your secret is safe with me."
"Okay. Here goes," she muffled, cheeks burning a soft crimson. Clearing her throat, she made direct eye contact with Rainbow Dash and gave her a serious look. "I think... I think I like Grif."
"Yeah, you're definitely drunk," Rainbow Dash said, grabbing the empty glass in front of Fluttershy.
"I'm fine," she said softly. "I liked him before we came here."
"Oh," Rainbow Dash said curiously, not really sure what to say to her friend. "How long have you liked him? Since he saved Angel that one time?"
"Yes," she nodded, embarrassed. "Everypony he came here with says he won't do anything and only thinks of himself. I guess he does kind of sleep more than a regular stallion, but he's just as happy to help me when I need to do something. He's nicer than Sarge, Church or any of the others give him credit for."
"Well... did you tell him that you like him?"
"No, I thought it was obvious," Fluttershy said honestly, looking down at the table. "I mean, I'm really nice to him, I don't argue with him when most ponies would, and whenever he looks at me I can't make eye contact without looking away a second later."
"Fluttershy, you're that way with everypony," Rainbow Dash groaned, rubbing her face.
"Oh," she mumbled.
"Don't worry, guys don't pick up on that stuff as easily as they should. And Grif isn't the brightest one in the..." Rainbow Dash stopped, thinking deeply. "Actually, he kinda seems smarter than most of the others, besides maybe Simmons, Church and Delta. Still, my point is that guys aren't good with all that feelings stuff. Remember your assertiveness training?"
"This is different..."
"Not really. You gotta be blunt about it," Rainbow Dash chuckled, but saw her friend deflate. "Want me to talk to him about it?"
"No!" Fluttershy yelped, then covered her mouth and looked around. Once she realized nobody else in the club was paying her any attention, she looked at Rainbow Dash and frowned. "You can't say anything to him."
"It's not good to keep emotions bottled up, Flutters," Rainbow Dash muttered.
"I know. I'll tell him when I know..."
"That he likes you the same way?" Rainbow Dash asked, giving her friend a supportive smile when she nodded. "I don't like to talk about this mushy stuff, but you're my friend, so I want to help you outta your jam. You really do have to follow your heart on this one."
"But I don't know what it's saying," she pouted.
"Look at it this way, then. It's either you tell him and risk whatever it is you have going on for you now, or you don't tell him and live a life never knowing how he feels," Rainbow Dash stated as if it was an easy decision. She then sat straight up when she saw the pair making their way back to the table, then nudged Fluttershy lightly and winked at her. "This might not be the best place for it, but I think the alcohol in your system might help you out a little on this one if you decide to ask."
"What are you guys talking about?" Tucker asked with a tight-lipped smile.
"Just mare stuff. You wouldn't understand," Rainbow Dash said.
"Please, I understand the female body way more than you ever will," he chuckled, placing the tray on the table while Grif plopped down in his spot with another plate full of fries. "Hell, I've basically memorized every curve on the outside of your body. I'm just waiting on the moment I get to memorize the inside as well. Bow-chicka-bow-wow."
"Charming as always..."
"And you said I would be annoying to live with," Grif chuckled, adjusting himself in the seat.
"So, um, Grif?" Fluttershy asked, biting her lip. Shaking her head, she grabbed the drink that was for her off of the tray and stared into it, finding it easier to talk to the liquid than to talk directly to Grif. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what is it?" Grif asked.
"I just wanted to know if... you... well..." she said, glancing at him. Then down to his plate. "I wanted to know if you wanted... ketchup... for your fries?"
"Good idea!" Grif smiled, giving her a friendly punch in the side as Rainbow Dash facehooved. "Be back soon!"
Fluttershy sighed deeply again, placing her chin on the table dejectedly as Grif zipped back to the bar. Feeling as if she'd never have the courage to tell him, she began to wonder if living with Grif simply as friends would be bad. They had been doing fine thus-far, and she saw no reason to risk ruining that now.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Clutzershy," a voice said, making Fluttershy freeze in her seat, making her feel a whole lot worse off than she already was.
Recognizing the voice, Tucker and Rainbow Dash turned to see a trio of stallion approaching them, each one with a Cutie Mark relating to a sport, each one with a smirk, and each one familiar to the trio at the table. Tucker, however, had not known them for as long as the girls, but he knew that there was history between them.
"Didn't think I'd ever see you in this place, let alone not hiding away in Grounderville," Hoops whooped.
"Leave her alone, Hoops," Tucker sighed.
"Why? Just poking a little fun," he muttered, smirking at the timid pegasus. "Ain't that right, Clutzershy? Oh wait, I forgot that you're the weakest Pegasus in all of Cloudsdale. You wouldn't know how to have fun."
"Why don't you guys just go away?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Why don't you make us? Oh, wait, if you tried, you'd probably just crash into the ground on your way over," he snorted, motioning towards Fluttershy. "You're almost as pathetic as she is. But at least you aren't scared to show your face around here, unlike that embarrassment."
"Guys, stop. You know I'd kick your asses if I wasn't buzzed right now," Tucker grunted.
"See? If Tucker isn't going to make us leave, then who will? Clutzershy?" Score laughed harshly, reaching for one of the fries on the table. Before he could grab one, he quickly found himself flying towards the crowd, a trail of blood arcing out of his nose after being struck on the side of the face.
"No," Grif glowered, placing a bottle of ketchup next to the plate of fries. "I will."
Oh my, time for badass Grif!!! Possible use of Grifshot? I think yes.
AHA!
Now who's groin is on the other....er...kicked!....?
NOOOOOOOO... i wanna see griff kick some ass. i cant wait another night. please
AWW SHIT!! Bad Ass Griff makes a fuckin appearance!
Damn, Grif. You scary!
SHIT IS GOING DOOWWWWNNNNN
Really loving the story so far also, Grif + Tucker = Awesome
Oh right, doesn't Girf have barkskin? And super high pain tolerance?
Let's kick some pony ass!!! Grif style!!!
Go Grif make them pay!!! no one makes fun of fluttershy and lives!!!!!
How did this get negatives but that's not the point, gri asserting himself and Fluttershy so close to revealing her feeling towards gahh I hate cliffhangers but great chapter and keep it up.
Don't you ever try and eat Grif's food. Or make fun of Fluttershy. If you do both, Grif will do to you what Sarge imagines he could do to Grif.
Grif: Nobody touches my fries!
: Wha-what?
Grif: Uh, I mean, Nobody messes with Fluttershy!
:...
2347871 Or touch his hayfries either... in that order: Don't mess with Fluttershy when he is around; never touch his food!
AWESOME GRIF when grif gets in a fight he should use a cone and destroys hoops gang with tucker
What is the word for when grif destroys someone I know Simons is simonsized and sarge is you just sarged
I just remembered that Grif, considering he was going to join the army, could kick some ass had he not of been so lazy.
Better call Kenny Loggins...because SHIT'S ABOUT TO GO DOWN!!!!
And by Grif, no less! Character development can be a gem sometimes!
Face it, Grif can be a badass.
Tackling the Meta anyone?
Alternate chapter title: Crouching moron, Hidden badass.
Might I say, Griff is very quickly becoming my favorite character in this story.
They made fun of his favorite mare. They touched his fries.
They will pay DEARLY.
Coming Soon, a chapter you've all been waiting for. "The Day the Sloth Picked a Fight" Starring Pvt. Dexter Grif.
I think the trio would be more wary around Tucker because he already beat there asses once
2348194 You'd also think they'd be more careful around Rainbow Dash when she kicked their asses in a race.
NEVER, touch grif's fries!
2348032 Well, you'd think that they would all be bad asses at fighting, but none of them seem to cut it.
Sarge- Spends way too much time making elaborate plans that won't work.
Simmons- Fainted(?) when Tex attacked them for the first time.
Grif- Just too lazy.
Donut- Too girly (no offense) to be of any use.
Church- Can't aim worth a damn.
Caboose- Constantly team-killing.
Tucker- Always checking chicks out during firefights or really during any other time of any day.
Tex- Really nothing to say on her. She's really the only one who can ever actually kick some ass in Blood Gulch.
R.I.P. Hoops. Ripped Into Particles.
2348110Grif isn't a moron though, hell during the Blood Gulch Chronicles, Church thought that Grif was the biggest threat the Reds posed, calling him "crafty".
I want to believe that Grif did it to defend Fluttershy, but I have a feeling the story will make it about his fries.
Better not make it about those damn fries
AS much as Grif doesn't want to hurt his reputation as a do-nothing slacker, he will not hesitate to beat them senseless and defend Fluttershy's honor!
2348312
Grif's too lazy, until it really matters. And then he'll tear your heart out.
And make you eat it. And then, he'll take a nap.
2348312 You haven't exactly seen Season 10, have you? Every single one of them took on TEX CLONES, and pretty much won...
Grif, please, please, PLEASE be defending Fluttershy and not your fries.
2347982
Dang that's what I was going to say he touched the fries without asking now he's going to die!
2348032
Actually Grif was drafted into the military!
Wait, wait, wait. Stop what you're doing. Drop everything...
...where's Washington been at this whole time?
They like sports do they? Well, then it's time for some Grifball.
2347809 Where the fuck would he get a Knifle?
2348829 Well he can make his wings into blades if I remember correctly.
2348523
The Blood Gulch crew are definitely badasses by this point, but it's not like they were fighting hundreds of full blown Texs. Carolina can't even touch the real one, but she tore through those copies like tissue paper.
2349155 She had years of survival and fighting to back it up after she was chucked off the cliff. She, like the blood gulch crew, all had gained experience in their life, even if most of it was based around a lie and combat simulations. The fact that real soldiers have such a hard time to kill them in any way just shows they are simply all made of iron to an impressive degree, and just got better the longer they survived. The Meta was their ultimate test, whom Tex couldn't even beat, but the crew were able to take down with force and cunning of simple tools, rather than trying to be crazy prepared and equipped to handle those situations.
2349165 That, or they're all goddamned lucky...
Grif is about to break some balls, a way that would make Tex proud! Go get 'em, Grif
Really if the 'don't touch my fries' bit comes up I will be less amused and more saddened considering how while it WOULD be funny it would also emotionally hurt Fluttershy and I do believe she has not done anything to warrant such a thing at the moment. It all funny til you get one of the mane six to really cry from the poor joke....
BUT other than that I do have to say this....GRIF TEAR THEIR WINGS OFF, FRY EM UP, AND THEN MAKE THE BASTARDS EAT THEM
yeahyeahyeahyeahyeaaaaah! Bad ass Grif ACTIVATE!
fatwallet.com/static/attachments/251256_anchorman_well_that_escalated_quickly_966.jpg
AIN'T NOBODY GON LIVE AFTUH TOUCHIN GRIF'S FRIES.
2348612 on the northwest coast of the US.
2348312 really then? check the fight against the meta in season 8 and check the 100 tex clones fight in season 10 which is episode 21 even on that episode CABOOSE joins in with the rest of the blood gulch crew (BGC) joining in aswell and actually are very competent at fighting the clones
2347862 Don't forget that his wings turn into the Brute/Grif-shot blades
2348879 You're correct.
Tucker: Shotgun.
*warthog appears and Grif gets in*
Grif: That's my cue.
*runs them over*